Practical Sailor's gear and boat reviews take the guesswork out of your buying decisions.

Volume 1
Number 1
April 30, 2000

Island Trader 37/38

In many ways, this overweight ketch exemplifies the worst of Taiwan boatbuilding during the 1970s.

In profile, the Island Trader 37 looks like she caught a wave on the chin. The sheer seems exaggerated, rising too high in the bow and stern. The low-aspect rig is short, carrying just 567 square feet of sail on a 30' 4" waterline. Displacement is reported anywhere from 18,600 lbs. to 26,400 Lbs. This gives the 37 an incredible displacement/length ratio of 422, and an abominable sail area/displacement ratio of 10.7, easily putting it in the "heavy" or "motorsailer" category. On the other hand, the tradeoff is comfort, no doubt due, at least in part, to an easy motion. "Solid and dry. Very stiff and stable platform," said one…

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